Texans Top 40: No. 16-24 – A backup cracks the top 20

I’ve compiled a list of the Top 40 Houston Texans based on the current roster, but I need to spell out how I decided to rank the players. My rankings aren’t based on overall value to the team or the ratings would start with “1. Matt Schaub, 2. Andre Johnson.”

Instead, I decided to try and rank the Texans as “football players.” I’m trying to decide how good a football player each player is relative to each other and how I come to my conclusions is certainly bound to be different than how you come to your conclusions. What you did in the past only factors in slightly as I’m looking to stack players based on where I think they are right now as players.

Keep in mind that some of my rankings will have players who have “never done anything” ahead of players who have experience under their belt. Oh well. In some cases I’m obviously projecting based on how I think they would play if given the opportunity that others have had. I was surprised at how hard the decisions were for the top 10 and it is easy to see why the Texans made such a big jump from 2010 to 2011 when you see the talent the Texans currently have inside their top 15.

16. Glover Quin, S – Quin struggled in preseason with his tackling as he struggled with new angles moving from cornerback to safety, but Quin really elevated his play during the season. Quin’s ability to support the run and cover wide receivers and tight ends helps to make the Texans safety duo one of the most versatile duos in the league.

17. Rashad Butler, RT – Butler could easily be rated in the top 12 by the end of the year if he wins the right tackle job and handles himself well in that position. Butler’s pass protection ability could be an upgrade from Eric Winston’s but the real question to me is how he handles himself in the running game which is very important for this offense’s success.

18. Shaun Cody, DT/NT – While Mitchell has the greater upside, Cody showed that he could handle the position better than most of us expected heading into 2011. Cody isn’t built for handling double teams all game long, but he did a good job of getting the job done last year. It will be interesting to see if Cody can play up to 2011 or if he loses some reps to Mitchell this year.

19. Earl Mitchell, DT/NT – Mitchell may be higher on the list than you expected him to be, but he can play – just ask Wade Phillips. Unfortunately for Mitchell, he might not be best suited in a 3-4, but his ability to rush the passer and disrupt from the NT position makes Mitchell a very valuable member of the Texans. If I were a 4-3 team looking for a 3-technique who can get up the field, I would be calling the Texans looking to trade for Mitchell.

20. Kevin Walter, WR – Walter is known as a great run-blocking WR and he has earned that distinction over the years. The problem for the Texans is that Walter’s reception numbers has gone down in each of the last four years and he isn’t getting any younger. With younger wideouts behind him, Walter could lose some snaps this season.

21. Whitney Mercilus, OLB – Mercilus has all the potential in the world but is still very raw right now. Mercilus played with his hand in the ground and standing up at Illinois so the Texans know how he rushes from both stances, but he’ll likely be a rotational pass rusher to start off the season.

22. Brice McCain, CB – There weren’t many players who looked worse than Brice McCain in 2010 and yet McCain would have easily won the “Most Improved Texan” award last season. McCain has good speed and quickness and showed a good deal of “stickyness” when matched up with WRs in the slot. I was also very pleased with what I saw from McCain in terms of his tackling in 2011. McCain’s play could end up keeping 2nd round pick Brandon Harris on the bench for awhile.

23. Kareem Jackson, CB – Despite being the city’s”whipping boy” for football, Jackson did improve in 2012. While Jackson played better, the Texans also realize that his game speed and closing speed isn’t what they had hoped it would be when he was drafted. Jackson’s upside will never be equal to where he was drafted, but he does have a chance to be “solid.”

24. Tim Jamison, DE – Jamison came out of nowhere last year and made just about everyone a believer. You could see his motor ran hot last year in camp and it ended up carrying over into games where he worked his way in as a rotational DE. Jamison doesn’t have the typical measurements of a 3-4 DE, but he does have the tenacity that defensive line coach Bill Kollar covets.

Previous Top 40

25. James Casey, FB/TE – Casey’s biggest problem is that he’s caught in-between positions. He’s not a true fullback and he’s not an every down tight end. What he is, however, is a football player. Casey will produce at a high level on special teams, but he also has some of the best hands on the team. If his blocking improves in year two as a fullback, Casey could become a huge weapon for Coach Kubiak as he gives the Texans unbelievable versatility with their formations which creates matchup havoc.

26. Keshawn Martin, WR – Surprised? This might surprise you right now, but you’ll get it once we get halfway through the season. Martin is tailor-made for the slot in Gary Kubiak’s offense. With an ability to shake defenders off the line of scrimmage, Martin figures to be a tougher matchup for nickel cornerbacks than Jacoby Jones was and he has great special teams value as a returner.

27. Bradie James, ILB – The old dog still has plenty of tricks and I’m sure that Wade Phillips has no problem with plugging James into the starting lineup once camp begins. James is at the stage of his career where he has no upside left, but he is a very capable starter in this defense.

28. Derek Newton, OT – Newton has size, a strong base and athleticism. The fact that Newton has almost no NFL experience might make this ranking a surprise to some, but I was actually dying to put him higher. Newton is a very real contender for the starting spot on the right side this year (although he is an underdog to Rashad Butler) and has starter’s potential.

29. Antoine Caldwell, RG – Caldwell isn’t as bad as he looked last season. In fact, Caldwell tried to tough it out with two high ankle sprains which hampered his performance and caused Caldwell to get “very down on himself” according to sources with the team. Caldwell should win the battle at right guard against rookie Brandon Brooks and from there we will finally see what type of game a healthy Caldwell has. This is probably a make or break year (camp?) for him.

30. Lestar Jean, WR – Jean is the “cause célèbre” of Texans fans on message boards, at water coolers and on sportstalk radio. And you know what? I’m buying into the hype. When I watch Jean, I see a WR with not only tremendous hands, but an ability to operate vertically as well. Most importantly, Jean has a great demeanor on the field and exudes confidence when you watch him work. While Kevin Walter may be the starter this year, I expect Jean to be the first man off the bench if Walter or Andre Johnson get hurt or need a rest.

31. Justin Forsett, RB – Forsett might be the Texans 3rd string RB, but he can play the game. Forsett saw his opportunities go way down last year with Marshawn Lynch’s emergence, but he fits in the zone scheme, he’s a solid pass catcher out of the backfield and he can return punts and kicks. Forsett will be an upgrade at the Texans RB3 spot this year.

32. Darryl Sharpton, ILB – Sharpton is aggressive and started to show signs of improvement last year until an injury sidelined him. With DeMeco Ryans gone, the thought was that Sharpton would get his chance, but with the signing of Bradie James and with Sharpton slow to recover from his quad injury, Sharpton’s playing time may be more limited to special teams if he can’t beat out James in camp.

33. DeVier Posey, WR – Posey missed most of last season and is playing a position that can be tricky for rookies to pick up. I wouldn’t expect much from Posey this year and I think he’ll find himself behind Lestar Jean in terms of pecking order at the outside WR position. Despite his size and speed, Posey just isn’t ready to make a dent in 2012.

34. Bryan Braman, OLB – Braman has the type of athleticism that could vault him into the top 25 by the time the season is over, but I still need to see more before I bump him that high this quickly. When I watch Braman on kick coverage, I see a future special teams Pro Bowler. Braman runs in the 4.5 range and that is obvious as he blazes down the field. Despite having greater athletic ability as a pass rusher than Brooks Reed, he still lacks the skill level necessary to be a consistent pass rusher. He is still young and learning, however.

35. Jared Crick, DE – Although smaller than JJ Watt, Crick has the type of game motor that Watt had coming out, but he doesn’t have Watt’s talent. In Wade Phillips’ defense, Crick has a chance to be a solid rotational player who is allowed to cut it loose up the field when called on. Crick will fight for snaps this year.

36. Brandon Brooks, RG – Brooks has never done it, but there is a good chance he will do it… but probably not this year. Brooks has outstanding power and better-than-expected lateral movement for a man his size. Right now, the game will be too fast for Brooks, but that doesn’t diminish his talent and potential as a player.

37. Tim Dobbins, ILB – Dobbins is somewhat limited at the LB position, but he can thump and was used at times around the goal line. Dobbins has always been a strong player on special teams since he came into the league and that value as a “teams” player along with his aggressive demeanor gets him slotted inside my top 40.

38. T.J. Yates, QB – Yates wouldn’t be a guy that anyone around the league would covet as a starter, but he did show some flashes this year and I know that Gary Kubiak is very high on his potential. If the Texans had to go to him for an entire season, they probably wouldn’t be a playoff team, but he has some potential to build on a second year player.

39. Troy Nolan, S – It was tough deciding what to do with Nolan. Initially, I had him out of the top 40 and he could wind up outside of this list by the time camp starts. Nolan helps on special teams and had to step in and start last year when Danieal Manning went down, but he will have competition in camp to hang onto his job this season.

40. Garrett Graham, TE – Graham has had very little action on the field so far and when I’ve watched him in camp and in the preseason, he hasn’t really flashed. In this offense, he has a chance to really make a name for himself, but right now he doesn’t stand out as a playmaker or blocker at the tight end position.